OBJECTIVEThe radial artery differs from internal mammary artery in its vascular biology and long-term patency after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study was designed to investigate their ultrastructural differences that may have implications in arterial remodeling and graft failure.

METHODSThirty-four radial artery and 11 internal mammary artery samples were obtained from patients underwent CABG, and subjected to routine electron microscopic examination. A semi-quantitative method was used to evaluate secretary endothelial cells, endothelial denudation, synthetic smooth muscle cells (SMCs), matrix accumulation, lipid deposition and medial submicroscopic calcification.

RESULTSCompared with internal mammary arteries, the radial arteries had more secretory endothelial cells (47.1%, 16/34 vs 27.2%, 3/ 11) and synthetic type SMCs in a background (14.4% vs 0.9%) that had more intimal lipid deposition and matrix accumulation (14.7%, 5/34 vs 9.1%, 1/11). Matrix vesicles and calcifications were frequently present in the media of both types of arteries. The calcifications, however, could not be visualized by routine histological stains, and therefore, named as submicroscopic calcification in this study. Fewer endothelial denudations were observed in the radial arteries, but no differences in medial lipid deposition and submicroscopic calcification were observed between these two types of arteries. The ultrastructural features and the arrangement of medial SMCs in radial arteries were similar to those of internal mammary arteries.

CONCLUSIONSRadial arteries have a higher SMC proliferative potential and more actively secretory status of endothelial cells, which may enhance the remodeling process and correlate with a decreased long-term patency. Better preservation of endothelial cells in radial arteries could be attributed to the "no touch" technique utilized in surgical harvesting. The significance of submicroscopic medial calcification during graft remodeling requires further investigations.

Calcinosis ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Coronary Disease ; pathology ; surgery ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Radial Artery ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; ultrastructure

Objective:To prepare the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) nanoantibody P3C8-C3Fab by ligating with C3Fab and to investigate its role in plasma half-life.Methods:The C3Fab peptide derived from protein G was molecularly fused with the nanobody P3C8 by DNA recombination technology. The nanoantibody P3C8-C3Fab was inducibly expressed and purified in the E. coli BL21 strain, and the binding of it to PD-L1 protein, mouse IgG, and PD-L1-expressing tumor cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The residual P3C8-C3Fab was detected in mouse serum at different times using double-antibody sandwich ELISA to assess the prolongation of the plasma half-life of PD-L1 nanobodies by C3Fab. Results:The nanoantibody P3C8-C3Fab was successfully constructed, and it could efficiently express itself in soluble form in BL21. The purified NbP3C8-C3Fab protein was obtained with a mass fraction of about 90% at a yield of 7.18 mg/L. The affinity of P3C8-C3Fab for PD-L1 protein and mouse IgG gradually increased with increasing mass concentration and showed a concentration correlation. The binding of P3C8-C3Fab to lung cancer A549 cells showed a concentration correlation. The concentration standard curve of P3C8-C3Fab in mouse serum showed a typical S-shape with a concentration correlation. The plasma half-life of P3C8 was only 0.44 h, while the plasma half-life of P3C8-C3Fab was 21.27-fold higher, up to 9.36 h.Conclusions:The linkage of C3Fab to the nanobodies of P3C8 can significantly prolong the plasma half-life of P3C8, which is valuable for the improvement of in vivo nanobody effects.

We reported a case of irreducible indirect inguinal hernia caused by sigmoid colon cancer entering the right groin.The patient complained about a right groin mass for more than 60 years with progressive enlargement for 3 years and pain for half a month.Abdominal CT examination at admission showed rectum and sigmoid colon hernia in the right inguinal area and thickening of sigmoid colon wall.Electronic colonoscopy and pathological diagnosis showed sigmoid colon cancer.Therefore,the result of preliminary diagnosis was irreducible indirect inguinal hernia caused by sigmoid colon cancer entering the right groin.We converted laparoscopic exploration to laparotomy followed by radical sigmoidectomy and employed end-to-end anastomosis of descending colon and rectum in combination with repair of right inguinal hernia.The patient recovered well after operation and was discharged.
Colon, Sigmoid/surgery* ; Groin ; Hernia, Inguinal/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Sigmoid Neoplasms/surgery*